Free Children’s Dental Care Program

Free Children’s Dental Care Program to Treat 10,000th Child in NJ
Posted: January 29, 2007
Next month will mark the fifth year that the New Jersey Dental Association will host the national Give Kids A Smile! (GKAS) program. The program is aimed at giving kids and parents the tools and knowledge to improve their oral health, while treating those children who are most in need. The program is slated to deliver treatment to its 10,000th child, and top $2 million in total free services rendered at nearly 80 sites across the state.
 
On Friday, February 2, 2007, more than 1,000 volunteer dentists, hygienists and dental assistants will deliver one day of free dental care to thousands of New Jersey’s underprivileged children ages 12 and under. The sites include all of UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School’s sites and clinics, many dental residency programs as well as county dental hygiene and assisting training centers and private dental offices.
 
“So many of New Jersey’s children suffer from unnecessary tooth decay,” says Cavan Brunsden, DMD, the statewide chairman for the GKAS program. “Our program gives kids a fighting chance and arms them with the proper tools and knowledge to enjoy healthy teeth for a lifetime.”
 
More than 2,500 children are expected to take advantage of the program this year.  They will arrive via bus trips from schools and with their parents or guardians.  At the program’s nationally recognized flagship site at UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School’s Newark campus, nearly 800 children are expected.
 
“We want to show the level of caring and compassion we dentists have for children,” remarked Robert Shekitka, DMD, president of the New Jersey Dental Association. “We want to be part of the solution by breaking down barriers to access.”
 
The program is organized in New Jersey by the New Jersey Dental Association, and is supported by UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School, UMDNJ School of Health Related Professions, New Jersey Dental Hygienists’ Association, and the New Jersey Dental Assistants’ Association.
 
Parents, educators, community programs and dental professionals who are interested in participating in the GKAS program should call the GKAS Hotline at 888-576-9278. They can also go online to download a list of the participating sites, parental consent forms, and volunteer registration forms at www.njda.org/GKAS.
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